Professor Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, a prominent religious cleric and former jihadi leader, once again took a hard stance against the Taliban militants and challenged their ongoing armed campaign.

Sayyaf was speaking during the commemoration ceremony to mark the 3rd death anniversary of former president and high peace council chief Burhanuddin Rabbani.

He criticized the Taliban group for their armed campaign against the Afghan forces and government and said Taliban are carrying out brutal attacks in the name of Islam.

Sayyaf challenged Taliban leaders for face to face debate and insisted that murderers of Afghan forces and jihadi leaders are infidels.

Rabbani was killed following a suicide attack in his residence in capital Kabul three years back.

He was assassinated by a suicide bomber who had disguised himself as a peace messenger, representing the Taliban group.

The bomber detonated explosives which were planted in his turban after getting close to Rabbani, killing him along with a number of other high peace council officials and injuring several others including high peace council secretary Masoom Stanikzai.